A Plea To My Colleagues

According to the Parks Department, in 2003 – the last year for which figures are available -- 43 percent of SLIF funds were generated in Mohave County, which means boating on Lake Havasu. The next closest contributor was Maricopa County at 18 percent.

When you consider the high percentage of boaters from out of state that visit Lake Havasu, I think it is reasonable to conclude that about one quarter of money that flows into the SLIF fund each year comes from out-of-state. In effect, we are taxing our own customers to pay for improvements and public safety on the Lake. These improvements, and public safety spending in turn, create facilities and an environment that attract additional visitors to Lake Havasu. Let me ask you to look at this a different way: Some of the money that is in the SLIF fund now, is directly attributable to SLIF funded facilities that were approved by this committee in the past ten years.

If you sweep funds earmarked for improvements on the busiest lake in the state, then you WILL also reduce SLIF funds for years to come. And keep in mind, much of that money comes from out-of-state.

I understand that we all face a difficult budget next year. But I ask if you must cut SLIF funding (or preserve the option of cutting such funding in the future) – do so with a scalpel and not a meat axe. Let the projects that will boost revenues in Mohave County move forward today and delay a decision on the other SLIF grants until after the budget is completed.